PI SCOOP … BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE TAPS NEW POLICY EXEC: The Business Roundtable, which represents top CEOs and consistently ranks among the nation’s top lobbying forces, is announcing today that Elizabeth Gasster will be its vice president of information and technology and regulatory reform. She’ll “oversee policy initiatives in the information and technology and regulatory reform areas, helping to shape and advance BRT member companies’ priorities,” the group tells PI.

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Gasster had worked as a senior policy counselor at ICANN, a nonprofit organization that coordinates Internet domain names among other functions. Before that, she spent nearly three decades at AT&T, working in a variety of capacities, including public policy director, senior attorney and director of federal government affairs.

NEW BUSINESS A-COMIN': Lobbying revenues may not be as strong as years past, but that doesn't mean new business is going completely by the wayside. This month alone firms have signed nearly 350 new clients.

Some of the biggest winners: ADS Ventures, which signed six new clients, including Oxfam America, Beacon Interaction Systems, among others. Kelley Drye & Warren inked a deal with five clients, including SNCF America, General Motors and The Council of the North American Insulation. And Arnold & Porter also signed four, including Lloyd's of London, Dutch Association of Insurers and AEGIS Insurance Services.

BARTON GIVES POKER BILL 3-2 ODDS: Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) told PI this morning that he believes the online gaming bill has about a 60-to-40 percent chance of passing before the end of the year. "It's not a slam dunk, but it's viable," he said.

GOOD LUCKY THURSDAY! Where the lawmakers in the House couldn't vote fast enough to be wheels up and out of here by early afternoon. PI, on the other hand, will continue to try to survive the sticky weather. Make our afternoon by slipping us a hot tip, juicy gossip and everything in between at apalmer@politico.com and dlevinthal@politico.com. Follow us on Twitter at @davelevinthal and @apalmerdc.

BREAKFAST BURRITOS, CASH FOR TSONGAS: Capitol Hill mainstay Tortilla Coast played host to Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) this morning for a fundraiser where $500 got you through the door. For political action committees, the price was $1,000. See the invitation here: http://ow.ly/cwinx

WEST PLANS 'DOGS' AT CONVENTION: Ever the jokester, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) grabbed attention this morning in the Speaker's Lobby, telling reporters he has more than political ambitions for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. "I'm going to be selling hot dogs!" West professed. PI's only question: Will he provide all the fixings?

POWER COMPANY PROMOTES GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICIAL:Pacific Gas & Electric, which regularly spends millions of dollars each year on federal lobbying efforts, is promoting Melissa Lavinson to vice president of federal government affairs and permanent head of its D.C. office. She had worked as senior director of federal affairs and interim chief of the D.C. office.

Lavinson has also worked in a variety of government relations jobs during her 15 years at the company, including director of federal environmental affairs and corporate responsibility and director of policy and strategy coordination.

ARTEMIS STRATEGIES SIGNS THREE: Artemis Strategies registered three new clients, including bio pharmaceutical manufacturer Transgene SA, the hydro-electric product manufacturer Hydrovolts and the trade group American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.

ERVIN | HILL HIRES ONE: The communications, government relations and public affairs firm Ervin | Hill Strategy has brought Rhett Dawson on as a principal. He comes to the company after myriad roles in both the public and private sectors, including president and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council and assistant to the p resident for operations in the WhiteHouse, in addition to work on numerous congressional and presidential panels and commissions.

GOING HYBRID: The Value in Electing Women Political Action Committee has informed the Federal Election Commission that it’s becoming a hybrid PAC — part traditional PAC, part super PAC. Through June, the committee had $62,303 cash on hand. See its notification here: http://bit.ly/MnZAeQ

ANTI-INCUMBENT SUPER PAC WINDS DOWN OPERATION: Our Alex Isenstadt reports that the Campaign for Primary Accountability, “a controversial super PAC with an explicit mission of unseating House members in primaries — and that played a role in the defeat of four incumbents — is scaling back, if not ending, its efforts for the rest of the election year.” The super PAC, which has raised nearly $3 million, says it’ll turn its focus to the 2014 midterms. Full story: http://politi.co/Pw4JnU

WHAT DOES $35K GET YOU AT A POLITICAL FUNDRAISER? Depends on the fundraiser, explains our new video reporter Alexander Trowbridge. Check out his report: http://politi.co/OdSXzy

GOP YOUNG GUNS FORM NEW JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: The National Republican Congressional Committee is teaming up with nine Republican congressional candidates to form the Young Guns 2012 Round 3 joint fundraising committee. Such committees may raise funds to benefit any of its members so long as the money it gives them stays within federal campaign finance limits. See the candidate committee roster here: http://bit.ly/LRN0mn

** A message from the National Chamber Foundation: Canada has seen an economic transformation in the last 20 years. Take an in-depth look at Canada’s approach to advancing economic growth, international trade, energy, manufacturing, and other areas. Register now for the Tuesday, July 31 event: ncf.uschamber.com. **

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD OF INFLUENCE:

- Wanted: Two industrial unions, the United Steelworkers and Unite are offering a reward to anyone who can tell them where MittRomney will be holding two fundraisers in London today, DanielStrauss reports for TheHill: http://bit.ly/NXwd34

John Duncan and Associates: The Livingston Group LLC (on behalf of New Day Financial LLC)

Law Offices of George Harris: City of Center Point

Law Offices of George Harris: City of Dothan

Law Offices of George Harris: City of Jackson

Law Offices of George Harris: City of Jasper

Law Offices of George Harris: City of Thomasville

Law Offices of George Harris: SoZo Group

Law Offices of George Harris: Town of Huntersville

Park Strategies: LaGuardia Airport Metro-Plex

Troutman Sanders Public Affairs: Columbus State University

** A message from the National Chamber Foundation: Canada has made great strides in growing and revitalizing its economy — especially in the areas of international trade, energy, and manufacturing. Over the past two decades, its strategic planning has led to a reduction in government spending and strong movement toward a balanced budget. Join us on Tuesday, July 31 as we explore the innovative policies that have led to Canada’s economic transformation. Register now: ncf.uschamber.com. **

Authors:

About The Author

Anna Palmer is a senior Washington correspondent for POLITICO and co-author of POLITICO’s Playbook, the most indispensable morning newsletter for the biggest influencers in politics.

Anna covers the world of Congress and politics, and has successfully chronicled the business of Washington insiders for years. Her stories take readers behind the scenes for the biggest fights in Washington as well as the 2016 election.

Prior to becoming POLITICO’s senior Washington correspondent, Anna was the co-author of the daily newsletter, POLITICO Influence, considered a must-read on K Street.

Anna previously covered House leadership and lobbying as a staff writer for Roll Call. She got her start in Washington journalism as a lobbying business reporter for the industry newsletter Influence. She has also worked at Legal Times, where she covered the intersection of money and politics for the legal and lobbying industry, first as a staff writer and then as an editor.

A native of North Dakota, Anna is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she was executive editor of the weekly campus newspaper, the Manitou Messenger. She lives in Washington, D.C.

About The Author

Dave Levinthal reports on political influence issues for POLITICO. Before joining POLITICO, Dave worked for two years as editor of OpenSecrets.org at the Center for Responsive Politics, where he oversaw the Center's original journalism and provided analysis to hundreds of television, radio and print news outlets.

Between 2003 and 2009, Dave reported on Dallas City Hall for The Dallas Morning News, and from 2000 to 2002, covered the New Hampshire Statehouse for the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune. He graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in newspaper journalism and political philosophy and edited The Daily Orange.

Some may argue, but there is no more dedicated Bills fan than this Buffalo, N.Y., native.